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Friday, August 31, 2012

It's that time again - the time for an amazing blog hop with amazing authors giving away amazing prizes! Romancing the Hop... where we celebrate our love for romance :).

What is your favorite thing about Romance? Well, we authors are ready to share our romantic tips and favorite romance reads! During Romancing the Hop, over 200 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about romance, reading romance, and dating.

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

My giveaway? Answer the question and comment, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win a free download of Something to Live For or Everything to Lose, Books 1 and 2 in the Moonlight Dating Series, in the format of your choice.

But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email addressand be entered to win. All your comments for my giveaway will count for the grand prize as well. [Please note: Entries without an email address will not be considered valid.]

Anyway, what this means is that you can enter over 200 times for the grand prize drawings!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!

Yep. ALL of that! Whoot! Be sure to come back here between August 31st and September 3rd to enjoy some stories and facts about our favorite Romance events and reads and enter to win!

So here's my take...

Romance is a big part of my life - simply because I write and read and breathe it. One of the things I love to do is waste time surfing around the net for cool stuff :). One day I stumbled across a bunch of sites with lists of quotes and they were so addictive, I spent hours reading through them! So today, I'm sharing some of my favorite romantic quotes from literature, and yeah, even a couple from my books :). Those lines that stay in your head and make you feel all funny inside when you read them... you know the ones!

Here goes:

“You think you want me now. But you'll change. Someday you'll find it damned easy to forget about me. I'm a bastard. A servant, and not even an upper servant at that--"

- Again the Magic, Lisa Kleypas.

“I cannot let you burn me up, nor can I resist you. No mere human can stand in a fire and not be consumed.”

- Possession, A.S. Byatt.

“I've never had a moment's doubt. I love you. I believe in you completely. You are my dearest one. My reason for life.”

- Atonement, Ian McEwan.

"I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love."

- Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez.

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”

- Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë.

“I wish I knew how to quit you.”

- Brokeback Mountain, Annie Proulx.

“You and I, it’s as though we have been taught to kiss in heaven and sent down to earth together, to see if we know what we were taught.”

- Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak.

"And she had changed him. In that short time, she had erased the man he had been, and shown him the man he wanted to be. A man who was worthy of a woman that strong."

- Nauti Dreams, Lora Leigh.

"She thought forbidden things, things that only devoted lovers would understand. Like what brand of shampoo he used, and why. Whether he used an electric shaver or old-fashioned blade. What ruffled his feathers... and did he like dogs? She wanted to know everything about him."

- Something to Live for, Natalie G. Owens.

"He loved the smell of her skin that reminded him of sprawling green fields bursting with flowers and sunshine. He loved everything about his Lissy – even when she bottled up her feelings until she exploded."

- Everything to Lose, Natalie G. Owens.

Don't these quotes make your heart beat just a little faster?

So tell me, please, what's your favorite romantic quote of all time? I remind you to comment with an email address and you'll be entered for the grand prize, as well as my giveaway.

"Delicately cast into a frame with frissons of the supernatural, this short story will have appeal to many types of readers, as it did to me. Ms. Owens has an intriguing touch with the aspects of characterization, plotting, and setting imagery; I'm quite eager to read more from her."

Fifteen years ago, one fateful day bound the lives of two perfect strangers…

Melita Saari-Quinn is living the consequences of a traumatizing psychic event that turned her adolescence upside down. Now, disillusioned with her job as a psychotherapist and desiring a change from her lackluster existence, she hopes that something out of her ordinary sphere of existence - something totally uninhibited and spontaneous - will renew her zest for life.

Alex Moncado seems to have it all – good looks, a successful business, and a fun life in “party central” of the Mediterranean: the island of Malta. Except for one day in the year when he can’t help but remember a tragedy that never should have been. One day he’d rather forget, because if he doesn’t, the guilt will consume him.

Can one passionate night together banish the ghosts of the past and give two lost souls a second chance?

From the suburbs of London to the old charm of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, follow the journey a broken couple must take to discover the long-buried secrets that shattered their marriage.

Lisbeth Marsh put everything on hold to be with her ideal man, even the wish to have a family. But when the dream of everlasting love vanished into thin air, she was faced with the mistakes and prejudices of her choices.

Dane Marsh is a proud man who spent years worshiping the gods of ambition. Toward this single-minded purpose, he sacrificed his happiness and peace of mind. Now that he knows what he's lost, will he have the courage to turn his life around?

With a little meddling from Moonlight Dating's Jeanette Lagrange and a dash of magic, the two embark on the trip of a lifetime to bury the ghosts of the past.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Readers! Eight award winners in the 2012 eFestival of Words "Best of the Independent eBook Awards" have grouped together to offer you an amazing opportunity. They've reduced the prices of their award-winning novels to 99 cents for August 27 and 28th!Whether you like to read mysteries, romance, horror, young adult, women's fiction, or fantasy, this group has it. Are you a writer yourself? Do you want to learn all about digitally publishing your next masterpiece? They've got you covered there too.Get all eight award-winning ebooks for the price of one single paperback!

Dead is the New Black by Christine DeMaio-RiceLaura Carnegie gave up on the man of her dreams a long time ago. He's fashion designer Jeremy St. James, and not only is he her boss, everyone knows he's gay.When the woman who holds the company purse strings is found dead in the office, and Jeremy's arrested for the murder, everything changes. If Laura can just solve this crime, keep the cops off her tail, break up a counterfeiting ring, and get the show on the runway by Friday, she might stop being Seventh Avenue's perpetual loser.If you love Project Runway, or enjoyed The Devil Wears Prada, try Dead Is the New Black.

Let's Get Digital by David GaughranThis guide contains over 60,000 words of essays, articles, and how-to guides, as well as contributions from 33 bestselling indie authors including J Carson Black, Bob Mayer, Victorine Lieske, Mark Edwards, and many more.It covers everything from how the disruptive power of the internet has changed the publishing business forever to the opportunities this has created for writers. It gives you practical advice on editing, cover design, formatting, and pricing. And it reveals marketing tips from blogging and social networking right through to competitions, discounts, reviews, and giveaways.If you are considering self-publishing, if you need to breathe life into your flagging sales, or if you want to understand why it's a great time to be a writer, Let's Get Digital: How To Self-Publish, And Why You Should will explain it all.

61 A.D. by David McAfee61 A.D. For ten years, Taras has lived in the young city of Londinium, feeding off the city’s underbelly. But now Theron, his old enemy, has come looking for revenge, and Taras’ nights of living in relative peace are about to end.Yet not even Theron can slip into town unnoticed, and the Council of Thirteen sends Ramah to deal with the two renegades once and for all. But unknown to the Council, a much older enemy is also in Londinium, and this time even the great Ramah might not be safe.Set against the backdrop of the Iceni uprising in Roman-era Britannia, 61 A.D. continues the story of Taras, Theron, and Ramah, as they fight their way through history.

Deadly Obsession by Kristine CayneNic Lamoureux's perfect movie star life is shattered by a stalker who threatens any woman close to him. When he meets photographer Lauren James, the attraction is instant--and mutual. She's exactly the sort of woman he craves, but the stalker makes deadly clear Lauren is the competition.And the competition must be eliminated."Stock up on ice cubes because this is definitely one sizzling debut. Readers will be hooked from the first sentence- on the book and on Nic! As rich as a white chocolate cheesecake, Cayne's entrance into the suspense genre is invigorating, explosive and simply intoxicating." ~ RT Book Reviews Top Pick

The Book of Lost Souls by Michelle MutoWhen teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Worse, someone has used an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers.Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But first, she’ll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits: the school’s hotter-than-brimstone demon bad boy, Nick Marcelli. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and Ivy soon discovers it’s going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week’s end

The Black God's War by Moses Siregar IIIAgainst the backdrop of epic warfare and the powers of ten mysterious gods, Lucia struggles to understand The Black One.Her father-king wants war.Her messianic brother wants peace.The black god wants his due.She suffers all the consequences."Moses is a fine writer deserving of success, and I think that it will follow ... I really enjoyed Moses's work." - David Farland, NYT Bestselling Author of The Runelords

Carpe Bead'em by Tonya KappesHallie Mediate was raised by her (slightly) crazy Great Aunt Grace on the wrong side of the tracks in Cincinnati. Hallie escapes her hometown and never looks back.That is, until she’s transferred back to the hometown. Not wanting her past to cross paths with her future, Hallie puts her life on hold.Aunt Grace is still up to her old tricks, but Hallie finds some sanity at a local jewelry-making class where she uncovers a hidden talent for beading.Will she keep searching for the happiness she may already have found?

The Survival of Thomas Ford by John A.A. LoganThomas Ford is the only survivor of the car crash which killed his wife. He is also the only witness who would be willing to identify the young, reckless driver who caused the crash. But the driver would sooner see Thomas Ford dead than ever let that happen.Happy Reading!

~ Natalie G. Owens ~ Romance with a dark edge.
No Rules. No Formulas. Just Love, Mystery... and a world of surprises in between!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

I'm super excited about today's post because I get to reveal the brand spanking new cover of my upcoming novel, An Eternity of Roses, Book 1 in The Valthreans series. Although this will not be my first published work, it feels like it is because it's my first full-length novel. I'm very much invested in this series, which has been over two years in the making.

The reason it took so long is because in the beginning I deluded myself by thinking I could wing my way through such a heavy understaking, without fully plotting the novel/series. How wrong I was! Eight rewrites later, I now have a book that is currently in the editing stage.

Putting together the cover for this novel was also no little feat. The problem was finding pictures of people who actually look like the characters. Believe it or not, they were hard to find in the thousands of stock photos I skimmed through. In the way I originally envisaged them, Adrian looked like a polished, clean-shaven Chris Hemsworth and Emmaline, with her Italian blood, like a young and exotic Monica Bellucci. After much searching, I (finally!) stumbled upon my Emmaline and Adrian, and I just love the way they turned out. The other images - the ship in the distance, the overturned chalice, the cobra - all have big significance in the novel, and indeed, at least for the latter two, in the entire series.

The cobra is the Valthreans' Achilles heel... the one thing that can destroy them.

The chalice is the catalyst to their power...

So I now have my cover, which I'm absolutely, utterly in love with... this is one hell of a surprise from my talented designer and soul sister, Zee Monodee.

What do you think?

An Eternity of Roses is scheduled for release in December 2012. I have posted the prologue and first chapter on a separate page, for your perusal.

Here's what the story's about --

Two lovers separated by an evil curse...
One woman's desperate quest through time...
A love that beats all odds...

And all the while, deadly danger brews around a two thousand year old secret
society and the enemy that lives to decimate it...

Adrian
Segrave, Viscount Bournemouthe, and Lady Emmaline Deramore are a couple in love
in early 19th century England. Unbeknownst to them, Lady Madeleine de
Brandeville, a sadistic and jealous witch, is intent on possessing Adrian
exclusively -- for his looks, wealth and connections -- aided by the dark powers of a mysterious artifact called the
Demon's Chalice. Two days prior to the lovers’ wedding, Madeleine's curse
destroys their lives and tears them apart. In her new role as a Valthrean
immortal, Emmaline forges her own path, and in the
process proves that true love can endure the most difficult of tests.

From England to Scotland, from mainland Europe to the distant lands of the Kashmir--and through time itself until the present day--AN ETERNITY OF ROSES is the story of love lost and found. The lovers’
journey is fraught with adventure and peril, and at the core of this quest are the Valthreans, a secret society of immortals who are forced to face a deadly enemy
that threatens their place in the human world.

***Harlequin's 'So You Think You Can Write' 2010 contest finalist.***

~ Natalie G. Owens ~ Romance with a dark edge.No Rules. No Formulas. Just Love, Mystery... and a world of surprises in between!

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I'm so excited that the Beach Book Blast event is kicking off today and that I'm a part of this great effort! Please check out this link for a list of all the fantastic prizes you have a chance to win, including a copy of my book, Everything to Lose. :) Then there's the amazing grand prize - a Kindle Fire! So what are you waiting for? Come join the party!

And here's something about my new release - released in August and already a 5* review:

From the suburbs of London to the old charm of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, follow the journey a broken couple must take to discover the long-buried secrets that shattered their marriage.

Lisbeth Marsh put everything on hold to be with her ideal man, even the wish to have a family. But when the dream of everlasting love vanished into thin air, she was faced with the mistakes and prejudices of her choices.

Dane Marsh is a proud man who spent years worshiping the gods of ambition. Toward this single-minded purpose, he sacrificed his happiness and peace of mind. Now that he knows what he's lost, will he have the courage to turn his life around?

With a little meddling from Moonlight Dating's Jeanette Lagrange and a dash of magic, the two embark on the trip of a lifetime to bury the ghosts of the past.

On Thursday, 16th August, we're also going to have a Facebook Release Party. Please join us for some chatting, fun, and even more prizes! But first, hop on over to the Book Blast Facebook page and like us so you can stay abreast of all the fantastic deals and events the Book Blast team has in store for you.

To learn more about the authors participating in this event, please click on the "Authors" tab of the Beach Book Blast website. You can also check out the Summer Launch Event Books and pick out your favorites. The beauty of it is there's a lot to choose from - something for all tastes!

As if we didn't already have enough prizes, during this event alone (Aug. 15-18), Something to Live for will also be FREE ON SMASHWORDS. So, I hope you get advantage of this opportunity to get a copy and many thanks if you do :).

When I started thinking about what to write about for this event, I narrowed down on the setting on my book, and picked up two little details that always show up in some measure - even a small one - in my writing. These two things are:

1. Travel - My stories often feature different settings around the world.

2. Food - There's a food item or recipe mentioned in all of of my books (so far).

So I decided to ask the Beach Book Blast authors a couple of questions and here's what some of them responded.

QUESTION 1:

If you had to live in any place in the world apart from your home country, where would it be and why?

[NOTE: The links to the books below are to Amazon, but if you prefer other formats, please find all the links to retailers, book info, and links to individual author giveaways here.]

"I haven't traveled that extensively internationally, but five years ago my husband and I toured Europe for our 25th Anniversary. If I were pulling up stakes and moving, I'd move to Rome. Since I'm from Pittsburgh, I'd head for sun and NO SNOW! Also... their sense of style is unmatched. The most amazing part is the city itself. You can be walking down a street, turn a corner and suddenly find yourself in front of a 2,000 year old ruin." - Janice Lane Palko, author of St. Anne's Day.

"I would
love to live in England. I was able to visit Oxford in 2008 during a study abroad trip. Oxford was a perfect place to stay. It was surrounded by countryside and was close enough to reach London and other sites within an hour by train. I'd like to be able to live there for one - two years and spend the time traveling, meeting people, and learning about the history of the area." - Christina Routon, author of Hillbilly Rockstar.

"Somewhere
in the mountains, but not where it’s too cold all the time because I hate being
cold. Australia, maybe, or southern Italy. And I’ve heard New Zealand is
beautiful, too. I can handle some winter and snow, just not too much." - Stacey Joy Netzel, author of Chasin' Mason.

"I would
never willingly reside anywhere else. However, being forced to choose, I would
choose the United Kingdom due to its historical connections with America. I
would also enjoy Japan for the attention to excellence that its citizens seem
to bring to everyday activities." - Dale Amidei, author of The Britteridge Heresy.

"Cote d'Acur, France. I like pastel colors, the beach, tiny swimsuits, and they know how to party." - Roy

"Malta sounds great. Got any spare rooms, Natalie?" - Alicia

"Hawaii because they have beaches AND mountains, my two favorite places." - Sheila Seabrook, author of Wedding Fever.

"Other than Canada I haven't been anywhere other than the US so sometimes my answer is anywhere but here! I would live in Montreal in a second but it feels like a second home to me even when I haven't been there in ages. Within a day or two my French is back with my Canadian accent firmly in place. I have a fantasy that I make enough writing that I can move to the South of France to spend the rest of my days writing." - L.C. Giroux, author of All In.

And then there's yours truly...

"I really love where I live - Malta, where we have beaches and great weather. However, I always dream of having a second home - a condo in Manhattan, New York, with a big picture window offering a great view of the skyline. What an amazing, vibrant city! I wouldn't like the winters, though. So I'll probably just hang out on the beach here then :)" - Natalie G. Owens, author of Everything to Lose (Moonlight Dating Series).

QUESTION 2:

Which food item or dish makes you most happy and gives you comfort - and why?

"I would have to say pizza. It's easy to make or buy and it comes in so many varieties. I don't really have a favorite. It's filling and there's always enough for leftovers. Almost anything can be a pizza topping. It's the one food I never seem to get tired of." - Christina Routon, author of Hillbilly Rockstar.

"Pasta! I
love pasta! It could be spaghetti or lasagna, bow tie or angel hair. Something
about the carb rush just makes me feel happy! As I type, my husband is making
my favorite pasta salad with feta cheese, black olives, onion and tomatoes.
Yum! Pasta = love." - Tamara Ward, author of Jade O'Reilly and the Mysterious Musician and Private Deception.

"Two
things—I love spaghetti for the blend of spices and garlic, and I LOVE black
tea with honey and sugar. I save my tea morning and night for when I’m working
at the computer, or relaxing while watching a good show. I love the sweetness
and the warmth as I sip."-Stacey Joy Netzel, author of Chasin' Mason.

"I enjoy
cooking Italian, Chinese and Thai style dishes. I avoid taking comfort from
food, preferring to think of it as the fuel for my body instead of
entertainment." - Dale Amidei, author of The Britteridge Heresy.

"Italian food...is my idea of perfect comfort food. After that, honestly anything my husband cooks. He never should have been a scientist. He'd have made a wonderful French chef." - L.C. Giroux, author of All In.

And my favorite is...

"I have a weakness for both Italian and Indian cuisine. Love the many varieties of pasta, especially a very simple recipe with fresh fish (swordfish, maybe), fresh tomatoes, mint, garlic, chillies, wine and olive oil. Then, Indian food. Where do I start? Curries make me happy. A close third for me is Thai cuisine, especially dishes with ginger and lemongrass :)" - Natalie G. Owens, author of Everything to Lose (Moonlight Dating Series).

So what about you, readers? What would be your answers to these two questions? Answer the questions in a comment here and you'll be entered for a free copy of any of my books - your choice. Please state your preference and provide your email address :)

Finally, here are the links to the Beach Book Blast authors' websites. Go on and check them out. :)

A visual list of the freebies (not including the individual author giveaways and the main prize)...

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO ENTER YOUR INFORMATION IN THE RAFFLECOPTER ON THE RIGHT SIDEBAR OF THE BEACH BOOK BLAST SITE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THE GRAND PRIZE - A KINDLE FIRE - AND A FANTASTIC LIST OF OTHER PRIZES, INCLUDING GIFT VOUCHERS AND FREE BOOKS. IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT PARTY! :)

~ Natalie ~ No Rules. No Formulas. Just Love, Mystery... and a world of surprises in between!